Faye McDonough

July flew by in a blur of end of term events and emails, a deep-dive into establishing foundations at work, train journeys, and some genuinely exciting reflections on change and collaboration. As I write this, I’m feeling that familiar end-of-school-term fatigue mixed with summer anticipation. 

I’m wondering why I ever agreed to be in charge of the holiday packing card. I’m already missing my usual routine (a sprained ankle at Cricket Camp has thrown our plans up in the air) – and I’m simultaneously celebrating the end of overwhelming school WhatsApp groups. It’s A LOT. 

This isn’t my first rodeo with summer transitions though. 

I’ve learned the hard way that July and August bring their own unique chaos – the all-encompassing logistics of childcare plans, pre and post-holiday planning, and whatever else life and work decide to throw at you. 

Add in some personal development goals, my least favourite parenting duty (packed lunches!), a new role building something from the ground up, and you’ve got a recipe for needing a holiday at the end of the holiday season.

I’m aiming for that not to be the case this year. 

To do that, I’m focusing on maintaining my regular yoga and swimming practice, time outdoors and early nights to keep me on track. What are your summertime madness tips? 

But even as I ponder what’s on the horizon in August, I’m reflecting on July. It’s been a month of getting out of my usual environment, making difficult decisions, reflecting on parts of my skillset that I don’t often admire and watching ideas turn into action. 

Here’s what I’m celebrating this month…

Writing and Sharing

Kept up my Friday publishing rhythm – Five weeks in a row of sharing on fayemcdonough.com, covering everything from business fundamentals to seasonal reflections. I’m genuinely surprised I’ve maintained this pace, and the response has been lovely. Thank you for reading! If you have any suggestions for other topics to cover, I’m all ears.

Explored unglamorous business advice – Turns out people want practical, actionable insights rather than “disrupt everything” content. The conversations this article sparked about forecasting and business planning have been brilliant and my new role is giving me plenty of opportunities to put my own advice into action. More on that soon.

Your reflection: What rhythm or practice have you been surprised to maintain this year, even when life got busy?

Work and Impact

Made difficult decisions clearly – Had several situations requiring unpopular opinions or decisions this month and it reminded me of the power in standing your ground, trusting your gut and sharing your position clearly. A thoughtful and quick “No” really does feel like the right option when the evidence doesn’t suggest a path forward.

Reflected on skills I rarely celebrate – Shared my experience of debt restructuring and default management when businesses and charities fail or can’t repay their loans this month. In doing so I realised that it’s an aspect of my career and skillset that I don’t often share. Maybe it’s because it was hard won and developed during that most difficult of times, the 2008 Financial Crisis? Putting it down on paper has prompted me to be grateful and made me wonder if I could share more about those difficult moments and what got me through. 

Set up proper focused work space – Finally embracing that I’m wholly reliant on multiple screens for productivity, investee reviews and contemplating our own financials. No shame in admitting what actually works, especially when analysing investments or getting under the hood of our own financial model. My home space is for single tasks, admin and planning. The Office is where I tackle the real nitty gritty. 

Your reflection: Which hard won skill do you underappreciate and which skill do you take for granted? How could you give it some more love? 

Personal

Created our summer wishlist – This is my approach to managing the anxiety of routine changes, staving off the working mum guilt and ensuring everyone gets to do something they love during summer. My kids are also typically no frills in their suggestions – knowing I can easily fulfill their wishes makes me feel like I’m winning. 

Previous summers have taught me some essential lessons about staying sane during this season, meaning I’m always intentional about three things: keeping it simple, communicating a lot, and saying yes to what gives me energy.

This year’s wishlist includes hot tub action at PAUS for me (writing this to hold myself accountable to actually go), whilst the kids have prioritised marshmallows, discos and reading challenges. 

Last Saturday’s trip to Cambridge Central Library to take part in the summer reading challenge brought back memories of maternity leave visits to Rhyme Time and my own teenage Saturdays spent at Cheadle Library back home – proving that you all benefit when you prioritise fun. It was lush – as were the post-trip doughnuts…

I’ve been relying heavily on tech to keep everyone coordinated – Apple Family Calendar at home, and being much more systematic about communicating where we’re at (and where I’m at), regularly, both at home and work. The low-tech kitchen whiteboard counting down to the next holiday club has been surprisingly popular too alongside a quick weekly review with Mr McD who’s taking the lead with coordination. 

Most importantly, I’ve been trying to say yes to things that give me energy – bike rides with friends in the rain, keeping weekends email-free, early nights, solo swims and walks.

When you don’t have the time is exactly when you need to make the time. 

Your reflection: Which of these three approaches – keeping it simple, communicating more, or saying yes to energy-giving activities – would make the biggest difference to your current season?

Made time for reflection – Between the writing and the work conversations, July has been a month of connecting ideas to action. I’ve been keeping up with daily journalling and I’ve been using my yoga practice to inspire my reading. I’ve been exploring The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer after the volume of recommendations finally got overwhelming. I’d resisted thinking it was too ‘out there’ for me but it’s surprisingly laugh out loud funny and has brought new meaning to ‘you are not your thoughts’. I’ll report back when I’ve finished…

Questions for Your Own Reflection

• Looking at your own July, what conversation or moment has stuck with you the most?
• What’s made it onto your summer wishlist, and what are you celebrating from this busy month?
• Which summer survival strategy would serve you best right now: simplifying, communicating more, or protecting your energy?
• What’s one difficult decision you’ve been avoiding that might benefit from a thoughtful and quick “No”?
• How could you get out of your usual environment this month to gain fresh perspective?

Picture note: Still writing with my laptop on my lap, furry friend Jim at my feet, and quite possibly MTV 90’s in the background…